2017 proved to be a historic year for the Gulf Coast High School girls tennis team.

The Sharks claimed the school's second-ever state championship, and became the first girls team to win a state championship.

"It took a lot of people needing to believe that we could do something incredible," Gulf Coast coach Mark Voorhees said. "The feeling at the end was good for the players. I was very proud of them and it was great for the school."

Coming into the season after accomplishing anything and everything a year ago, Voorhees said that the Sharks are looking to improve every day.

"We're just looking forward to this year, trying to put it together and make some improvements," Voorhees said. "We know the competition around here is very tough."

Despite a state title bringing that sense of being a powerhouse, Voorhees said his team isn't entitled to anything.

"Last year was last year," he said. "We just want to keep getting better as a team, and that's the important thing. We're looking to improve each match."

The Sharks return a young, but experienced, roster into the new year.

And that may not include two-time Daily News Player of the Year Viva Laas, who said whether she plays this year is "undetermined at the moment," according to Voorhees. Laas has signed to play at Delaware.

Regardless, Gulf Coast has plenty of firepower. Last season when the Sharks needed clutch moments with the regional title and the state title on the line, freshmen Emma Schilling and Shale Bouchard delivered.

Schilling defeated Venice senior Tea Binder, 6-1 and 6-2 to book the Sharks' second consecutive trip to the state tournament.

With Gulf Coast and Tallahassee-Chiles tied at three with the state championship up for grabs, Bouchard won six straight games in the final set to give the Sharks the title.

"I think all of our returning players absolutely made a contribution to last year's success," Voorhees said. "Part of our focus as a team is seeing how last year's pieces will fit together with our new pieces."

Emma Heiderscheit provides a sense of leadership in her third year with the Sharks.

Heiderscheit went undefeated in No. 2 singles play and in No. 1 doubles play, alongside Laas, last season.

A finalist for the 2017 Naples Daily News Girls Tennis Player of the Year award, Heiderscheit claimed two regional titles, two district titles and a state title in her first two seasons with the Sharks.

“Emma’s a great player,” Voorhees said. “She’s given us a lot of leadership, and she helps out the younger players. It’s always nice to have players back from last year that can teach the younger players.”

While Voorhees doesn't want the Sharks to get too far ahead of themselves when it comes to replicating last year's success, the Sharks will definitely lean on their postseason experience later on in the season.

"One thing we can take from last year is the experience once you reach the state tournament, and the pressure that’s involved," Voorhees said. “When you get to those later rounds and you’re dealing with the incredible high level of competition, we can certainly look back at last years’ experience and take those moments and learn from them.”